Addressing Planetary Biodiversity International Organization

Our planet is in transition; air temperatures are rising, rainfall
patterns are shifting, and ice is retreating. These changes in the
environment are restructuring ecosystems around the world.
Efforts to monitor these impacts demand approaches which
can rapidly assess biodiversity at large geographic scales to
track shifts arising as a consequence of environmental change.
The solution lies in moving from the use of morphology-based
to DNA-based identification systems which benefit from the
exponential rise in the power of both DNA sequencers and
computational technology.
The International Barcode of Life (iBOL) Consortium, an alliance
of research organizations in 30 nations and growing, began to
lay the foundational elements for a DNA-based biosurveillance
system in 2010. By 2015, it had completed its first project,
BARCODE 500K, a $125 million effort that delivered DNA
barcode coverage for 500,000 species. In June 2019, iBOL
launched BIOSCAN, a 7-year, $180 million project that will scan
species assemblages at 2,000 sites around the planet, while
also extending the DNA barcode reference library required to
interpret these data.

DNA barcodes allow anyone to assign any specimen to its
correct species. They also make it possible to scan the species
composition of mass collections. Such analysis permits the
large-scale quantification of ecosystem structure by government
agencies, private sector firms, and researchers. By employing
organisms as indicators of environmental change, our capacity
for biotic forecasting will be enhanced. Through such action,
humanity will be able to generate the information needed to
support the formulation of policies that aid the protection of
global biodiversity.
BIOSCAN represents the biological counterpart to the way
in which our understanding of the physical world has been
advanced by digital instrumentation. Geographic location is now
ascertained by GPS, and shifts in surface features are sensed
by satellite. DNA-based identification systems will similarly
transform our understanding of the biological world, allowing
ecosystem appraisal at unprecedented temporal and spatial
scales. BIOSCAN lays the foundation for the PLANETARY
BIODIVERSITY MISSION that will complete the inventory of life
while activating a global biosurveillance system.

2045

PLANETARY
BIODIVERSITY
MISSION
20M SPECIES 50+ Nations

2026
BIOSCAN
30+ Nations
2.5M 2019
0.5M 2015
BARCODE 500K
20 Nations
2010

SCANNING LIFE SPECIES COVERAGE TIMELINE

Outcome
By coupling high-throughput sequencing with the capacity of DNA barcoding to discriminate species, BIOSCAN will document patterns
of biomass and diversity in response to anthropogenic drivers such as shifting land use, pollution, and climate change. This information
on patterns of diversity across ecoregions and in response to these drivers will provide the baseline data essential for evaluating and
modelling biotic change. Although BIOSCAN’s initial studies will focus on terrestrial settings, its work will develop protocols that will
see adoption in freshwater and marine ecosystems.
Board of Directors y Manag Science Committee
trateg em
en
S t
Throughout its first five years, iBOL’s The Science Committee (SC) is
Board of Directors was composed
ard of Directo comprised of one researcher
Bo rs

n
tio

Fin
of representatives from funding from each member nation.

ora

anc
agencies involved in supporting They drive the design and

Collab
the Consortium. To strengthen its implementation of core research
Annual

ials
connection with the organizations activities – scanning species
best positioned to achieve its Membership composition and reference

Meeting
research objectives, iBOL’s library building. They also

es
Board has been restructured. oversee the application of DNA
A p p li

renc
It is now comprised of senior barcoding in diverse contexts.
Sc
ee
c at
ie n
representatives from major Although the SC is primarily

nfe
t t
ion
institutions involved in biodiversity
ce Co m mi focused on coordinating research

Co
s
science and genomics. The Board Bi activities, it also organizes the
y
functions in a strategic capacity, o-s
b r ar biennial International Barcode of Life
urv Li
e ill a nce
R efere
reviewing research progress and providing nce conference. Its members meet yearly to
suggestions on how to accelerate it. consider progress and to adjust plans.

Member Nations
Member nations are engaged in supporting iBOL’s goals. They are composed of leading researchers and
representatives of the key organizations supporting the discovery and protection of biodiversity that extends from
their home nations to our planet.

Argentina China France Netherlands Poland Switzerland

Australia Colombia Germany Norway Portugal Thailand
Austria Costa Rica Lebanon Pakistan Romania Turkey
Belarus Egypt Mexico Peru Slovakia United Kingdom
Brazil Finland New Zealand Philippines South Africa United States
Canada

Member Nations
Associate Members
For more information:
Visit iBOL.org
or email info@iBOL.org